Amnesty International has strongly condemned Monday's murder of Natalia Estemirova, a leading human rights activist working in the North Caucasus region and a long-standing friend of the organization.

"Natalia Estemirova's murder is a consequence of the impunity that has been allowed to persist by the Russian and Chechen authorities," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

Natalia Estemirova, one of the leading members of the Russian human rights NGO Memorial in Grozny, Chechnya, was abducted on Monday at around 8:30am local time. She was dragged into a white car (VAZ-2107) and driven off in an unknown direction. According to witnesses, Natalia Estemirova managed to shout out that she was being abducted.

Later on Monday, the Russian news agency Itar-TASSreported that her body had been found in the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia with gunshot wounds.

"Human rights violations in Russia, and especially in the North Caucasus, can no longer be ignored. And those who stand up for human rights need protection," said Irene Khan.

"The terrible tragedy of the killing of Natalia Estemirova is a crime that should be denounced by the authorities and every effort must be made to bring those responsible to justice. It is yet another attempt to try to gag civil society in Russia and highlights the instability in the region."

"Natalia Estemirova was a most courageous and inspiring woman who never tired of defending the human rights of others. She was a truly exceptional person and a friend to many of us."

"We are shocked and saddened by the news of her death and wish to express our deepest sympathy for the family of Natalia Estemirova, for her friends and for her colleagues."

Natalia Estemirova's work was crucial in documenting human rights violations in the region, such as torture and other ill-treatment, unlawful killings and enforced disappearances, since the start of the second Chechnya war in 2000. She also devoted herself to providing assistance to displaced people and other socially disadvantaged groups. No one has claimed responsibility, but colleagues believe she was killed for her human rights activities.

Her work has been recognized both at home and internationally by numerous awards, including the Robert Schuman medal of the European Parliament (2005), the Right Livelihood Award of the Swedish Parliament (2004 - the so-called Alternative Nobel Peace Prize), and she was the first recipient of the Anna Politkovskaya Award (2007).

The murder of Natalia Estemirova sheds further light on the precarious circumstances in which human rights defenders work in the Russian Federation. It follows the killings earlier this year of human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova, both close friends and colleagues of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who herself was murdered in 2006.

Amnesty International has called for an end to impunity for the murder of human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers in Russia.

Montag, 6. Juli 2009

Nobody has been as loudly kicking and screaming about the coup in Honduras then the European Left! "Solidarity !" "Back in Office with Pres. Zelaya" etc.

But when it comes to Iran, the European Left is becoming much more quiet, eventually taciturn. No press statements can be found on the internet prescence of the GUE/NGL, the German DIE LINKE, the French NOUVEAU PARTI ANTI-CAPITALISTE, nor on the site of the Luxembourgian Left, DEI LENK, or SOLID, the German Young Lefts.

Strange, the greatest liberation movement in recent Iranian history is not even mentioned on their internet pages ? Why is that ? In 2006, Left and para-left groups around the globe were rallying against an Israeli pre-emptive attack on the Iranian nuclear plant & enrichment facility Naftans. Today however, when it comes to Ahmadinejad, one of the fiercest critics and most emblematic figures of the self-proclaimed "Anti-Imperialist world order", the European Left seems to maintain a low profile, or as I see it, put Human Rights second, and the supreme, mantric anti-capitalist struggle on the first place. In the case of Iran, that's not only shortsighted, but absurd: German Left medias (Neue Welt, Neues Deutschland) have even congratulated Ahmadinejad for his victory at the polls. (other congratulations came from Minsk, Caracas, Pyeongyang and Moscow, the typical romantic spots for human rights). In a country where homosexual teens are hanged, women stoned and dissidents tortured, the European Left can treat itself to talk about the capital, anti-imperialism and the struggle of good vs. evil, while dozens, see hundreds of brave Iranian citizens are slaughtered in the streets of Tehran, and Esfahan. Although I know many Lefts who all are showing their solidarity with the people of Iran, I demand more than just sympathy on the beer counter but also official statements and releases. Because where the European Left seems to totally miss the point is that this is not an issue about Mossawi, Ahmadinejad or Khamenei, this is an issue about the universality of human rights, and the longsome violation of Human Rights in Iran, nothing less.

Good Night, and Good Luck!

Human-, Environmental-, and Animal-rights activist. Now Specializing in Nuclear Issues.
Former Spokesperson Luxembourg Young Greens 2006-2012
Former Member Executive Committee Luxembourg Green Party
Executive Committee Member FYEG - Federation of Young European Greens 2012 - now